After what he described as an exhausting nine-month campaign and emotional election night, when he bested his opponent by the slimmest of margins, Mayor-elect Bill Carpenter spent Wednesday resting.

As a result, he said he was not prepared to begin answering questions about his transition plans.

“Obviously laying the groundwork for a successful transition is critical to our ability to start working effectively on Jan. 2,” he said.

That process will begin this morning and continue in earnest over the holiday weekend.

Carpenter will have to make his transition arrangements around his current job at the Health Department, which he said he plans to keep right up until he’s sworn in.

“In case you haven’t read the paper, I can’t afford to lose the paycheck,” quipped the city’s presumptive new leader.

That won’t affect his transition work, Carpenter said, noting he worked for the city throughout his successful campaign.

Mayor Linda Balzotti, whom he defeated by 55 votes in Tuesday’s election, has indicated she will seek a recount. Balzotti could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“That’s her decision, and if she seeks the recount we’ll be prepared to participate actively,” he said.

Carpenter declined to comment on who might be part of his transition team or what role his campaign manager, Mark Lawton, a former judge and state representative, might play in his administration.

“Realistically, between now and January many of those conversations will be confidential,” he added.

His top priority upon taking office will be stemming the tide of violent crime in the city, Carpenter said.

“We have a very detailed plan, it’s going to be a matter of how we implant that starting day one,” he added.

Carpenter would not comment on a timetable for beginning negotiations to reach a settlement with Brockton Power LLC, which would include it dropping a $68 million lawsuit and pave the way for a gas-fired power plant in the city’s south side.

When asked about the stated resistance of the majority of city councilors to such a plan, he said, “I understand their positions, but I believe at the end of the day they will do what’s in the best interest of the people of this city.”

In terms of priorities, Carpenter said residents should expect action on the city’s contract with the Aquaria desalinization plant, which has cost the city tens of millions of dollars over its life-span, before there’s any movement on the power plant.

Carpenter plans to bring in expert outside legal counsel, something the current mayor has already done, but suggested his efforts would look for remediation steps beyond just voiding the contract.

Page 2 of 2 - “I have a very large, very aggressive agenda to accomplish in two years,” Carpenter acknowledged. “But it’s one that I think we can achieve.”